Page 16 of Playing for Keeps
“Hey, good morning, beautiful.” His voice startled me, and I turned, my stare locked on him as he stepped into the room. “Was kinda hoping you’d still be in bed.” He teased, though stopped noticing what I’m sure was an expression of distaste.
“Who is she?” I asked.
“Who?”
I stepped back and pulled the picture from the wall, moving to him. “Her,” I answered sharply. I felt rage and disappointment, but not at him. At me for allowing myself to go against all my warnings and morals.
CHAPTER 16
CAMERON
With a furrowed brow, I tossed my phone and keys onto the table, moving toward her, and took the picture from her hand. It had always been one of my favorite photos of Lana and me. We were eighteen and had just finished attending a game of the local football team, Easton, was playing. It was right before I left home for school, shortly after I had received my football scholarship. Confused about why Hannah was so upset over the picture, I lowered it to the table, licking my lips as I took a single step toward her, matched by a step back. I exhaled and dropped my shoulders at her reaction; how did things change so fast?
“Her name is Lana. She’s a family friend from back home.” I thought my answer was clear, though the expression painted across her face reflected differently. “This was after….”
“One you’re still close with?” She asked before I could explain the picture.
My brows furrowed at her strange question. “I mean, yeah. She’s my best friend, if you don’t count my brother. Why are you…”
“Are you more than just friends?”
“She’s like family, if ….” I paused, suddenly getting what she must have thought. With a chuckle, I shook my head. “She’s like a sister to me, nothing more.”
“She’s not your girlfriend?” Hannah’s question was asked with a softer voice.
Grinning, I stepped up to her and took her hand in mine. “Not a chance, we don’t see one another like that.”
Hannah dropped her eyes from mine. “I saw pictures of you together on Google. You were dressed up and seemed pretty close.” She admitted.
I pressed my finger under her chin and slowly brought her gaze back to mine; my lips pulled into a smile at the corner of my mouth. “Lana and I use one another for events we didn’t want to take dates to,” I confessed. “Most recently, it was the opening of her restaurant.” I paused as Hannah looked away once more. “Thought you were the other woman, did ya?”
She nodded as she looked back up at me. “I’m sorry, I just figured from experience.” She paused. “I’m sorry.”
“I wouldn’t have brought you home if I had a girlfriend or wife. I’m not that type of guy.”
“I’m sorry.” She apologized, and before I could tell her it’s okay, she continued with a soft tone. “I just got paranoid. I mean, you’re this big star who could get anyone you want, and I mean, why would you pick someone so common? It just didn’t make sense, and I guess my brain got the better of me.” She exhaled. “I’m sorry.”
Did she think this little about herself? Saw herself as common, nothing of worth. It angered me that she had lived her life in such a false reality. Had her father played a role in it? Not telling her, reassuring her, how amazing she was. Had she been hurt, used so often by people because they wanted her for something else, that she started to believe that’s all she was worth? It didn’t make sense to me how Hannah couldn’t seewhat a fantastic woman she was. I knew the second I saw her, the minute our eyes first connected, I was pulled to her. So much so, I was willing to risk everything I’ve worked my life for just to be close to her. No matter how long she allowed it.
“Hannah.” Placing my hand on her cheek, I waited for her to listen. I needed her to understand, to believe every word I would say. “When I found out you were off limits, I was prepared to fight everything inside me and stay away from you.”
Hannah glanced down with my pause.
“Until I remembered the first time I saw you, on that balcony.” She looked back up at me. “You have this energy, this goodness, pull, whatever you want to call it, that I couldn’t ignore that night, and still can’t ignore even knowing what is at risk.”
She started to speak, and I quickly continued. “You’re not common, not even close. You’re a brighter star than I am, and last night confirmed one thing to me.”
“What’s that?”
I smiled at her question, a short pause, my palm rested along the nape of her neck, my gaze deep into hers. “I’m ready to throw everything out the window if it means having just one more day with you.”
There was a second when we stood before one another, neither of us spoke, and the realization of my words came over me. Throughout my entire life, I believed I had loved one woman, but after meeting Hannah, I realized I hadn’t. She made me feel alive, made me feel hopeful for more than just playing football. It was strange to look forward to anything that didn’t revolve around the game, yet I relished the thought when she was close. I knew we wouldn’t be able to be out and public, at least right away, and it would be hard, but I never backed down from a challenge. If I had to choose between the game and myteam, and it came down to that over Hannah, I knew she would win.
They say when you know, you know. And looking into Hannah’s eyes at that moment, I knew.
Without another word spoken, Hannah pushed me back, falling on the couch. We both laughed as she climbed onto me. Her hands moved to the sides of my face, mine to her waist as she rolled her hips against me, and our lips connected with a passionate kiss. Everything else melted away when I was with her; it was a surreal feeling, one of peace and bliss. She brought excitement and happiness. Grunting as she grinded on me, my hands slid up the back of her shirt. Hannah sat back. She gripped my shirt and pulled it over my head, tossing it to the ground.
Sitting up, I kissed along her neck, behind her ear, before our lips met again in a hungry dance. I pressed my palm harder against her, securing her in my arms, when the front door opened. Hannah, with a quick gasp, jumped from my lap, sitting beside me. As I stood and turned, I saw who it was. Snatching up my shirt, I pulled it on. Making my way around the couch, I sprinted to the door, kissing Lana on the cheek as she looked from Hannah to me.
